The platform, named Geojimap (Map for Beggars), has already attracted more than 400,000 users since its launch on March 21, according to The Korea Times.

Graduate student Jeong, who lives in Seoul’s Seongbuk District, said she discovered the app through an online campus community.

“I got tired of cafeteria food, but eating out is expensive these days since most places cost 10,000 to 15,000 won,” she said. “It’s a burden for a student like me.”

Food prices in South Korea have been steadily climbing. In February, the price of gimbap (rice, meat, seafood, and vegetables rolled in seaweed) rose 7.4% year-over-year to 3,800 won. Bibimbap (rice topped with eggs, meat, and seasoned vegetables) averaged 11,615 won, while samgyeopsal (pork belly) cost 21,141 won and kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) averaged 9,962 won.

Fast-food chains have also raised prices, and inflationary pressures are expected to continue in the country, partly due to the ongoing Middle East crisis. The OECD recently revised South Korea’s 2026 inflation forecast upward to 2.7%, from 1.8% in December 2025.

Amid rising costs, Geojimap’s founder Choi Sung Soo, a 34-year-old developer, said he launched the platform to help people find affordable meals.

“I’m just one of a growing number of people trying to cut back on living costs,” Choi told The Korea Times. “But information on cheap eateries was scattered, so I wanted to bring it together on one platform.”

Geojimap aggregates user-recommended eateries, relying on what it calls the “collective intelligence and strict evaluation of beggars.” Users do not merely share locations, they also leave detailed reviews. The platform even considers nutrition: menu items priced above 7,000 won may be restricted if they consist mostly of carbohydrates without protein.

The app also serves as a broader hub for budget-conscious living. According to The Asia Business Dailyusers have expanded the platform’s use to share money-saving tips, from tracking daily meal expenses to posting supermarket closing-time discounts.

Explaining the platform’s name, Choi said: “It’s not about self-deprecation, but rather a playful way for people to collectively cope with rising costs.”